Have I ruined my fertility?

[forthefunofit]

Probably worrying without cause.

Had a very early medical termination in January, soon to TTC again. The circumstances were very specific but it was unplanned and happened literally one time, so we conceived instantly

My cycles before then were 29-31 days. Always. I ovulated around day 14-16 each time.

My last three cycles have been very long. One 38 days, one 45 days and now still awaiting my period on cycle day 43.

I have never had such long cycles. I’m worried about it. It’s not that ovulation is later either, as I’m still having all the fertile signs around days 14-17.

We plan to try next cycle when my period arrives.

What can I do? I’m under 30 and as I say conceived immediately previously, no idea why my cycles have gone crazy and I’m worried we’ll have a difficult long journey ahead of us!

Bump

Honestly- I wouldn’t panic. Try as planned the next few months, take multivitamin, cut down drinking, continue tracking cycles but for now just have sex regularly, every other day and more during fertile window.
Sometimes a gynae ‘event’ for want of a better word (things like miscarriage, surgery etc) can knock cycles for a spell as can stress and anxiety. If the ToP went smoothly it’s very unlikely to have damaged your fertility.
Dont panic, it’s good you conceived quickly last time. Sending well wishes for another pregnancy soon.

Thank you so much 💕

No, you haven’t. It’s common for cycles to take a while to go back to what’s normal for you, after a pregnancy has ended. Stress is what always causes mine to be irregular, and whilst it’s so hard, do try and reduce stress - whatever works for you. For me it’s exercise, particularly swimming and keeping busy with hobbies, projects, social plans.

@forthefunofit im a women’s health nurse and see women all the time panicking about their fertility- it’s so normal to worry 💕

It is extremely unlikely you have damaged your fertility. Emphasis on the extremely bit.

No you won’t have. It’s just your cycle getting back to normal. Don’t panic!

in my younger 20s i used to hve slightly longer than average, like 30-33 days. Then ag I aged I noticed my cycle going longer. I am now average 42 days. I have a DD and another on the way. So dont let long cycle freak you out. It can happen! Good luck

I have been in a similar situation. I was so stressed about it that I did stop ovulating (I did have a whole range of tests and there were no other problems). But it was the stress that caused the problem, not the termination.
Once I dealt with the stress, I got pregnant easily.

Oh phew, thank you, was it pretty straightforward for you in both your journeys to get your DC x

My first was very straight forward. I conceived her first cycle of TTC. I was 29 at the time. the second took 6 months, 30 at the time but not fully committed TTC, just as and when. I had a miscarriage but fell pregnant two months after.

i was like you. Super concerned over my long cycle, and many time wondered if I have like PCOS or something.. but all test came back normal. So dont worry too much

This is reassuring, thank you

When you TTC I'd definitely suggest trying for longer than just the CDs you think you're fertile (in case you were timing sex around them). If your period comes on day 45 you would have ovulated anywhere from 12-16 days before that. I don't think it's possible to ovulate on day 17 and then have your period 20+ days later. Your luteal phase will usually stay the same so 14ish days 😊 it's normal not to get pregnant straight away so try not to let that add to your worries if it isn't another first time positive test. Good luck!

Edit to add: I know you didn't ask for any of that information but just as you mentioned still ovulating at normal times and I didn't want you to miss your chance by having sex at the wrong times!

Thank you! Definitely worth bearing in mind. In that case I’m just worried I’m now not ovulating? As I had the signs of ovulation around day 15-17 this month. Ewcm, temperature etc. No more ewcm since then.
I mean… I’ve not tested this month. So I guess there is a (small) chance I could be pregnant? DTD around day 30 and now on day 43

Thank you, very much.

Try not to worry too much. Bodies are crazy and I'm sure your cycles will settle down.
Definitely worth taking a test just in case!

Please don't worry. My cycles are batshit. Anywhere from 35 to 72 days. I even had 118 days once with no period. I think only one ovary ovulates. I can still conceive.

Any kind of hormonal event can mess with your cycles, they'll go back to normal in a few months. That or get the Pfizer jab. Mine were regular 28 days like clockwork for 6 months after that. I had the right hump as I wasn't used to being on every month. 😂

I found basal body temperature a more accurate way to see if ovulation occured. I was only tracking at that stage but on my longer cycles I often had what seemed to be ovulation based on ewcm and got the temperature spike, but then it went back down low and spiked again a week or even two latwr. So I was ovulating over a week later on my longer cycles. I lost some weight before TTC and my cycles dropped back down to more around 26-27 days. I also got longer cycles when stressed or if I was sick around day 10 when I'd normally ovulate.

I could only accurately pinpoint ovulation using vaginal temperature and had to take it as soon as I woke, so couldn't do my usual being half awake for a while as it wasn't accurate if taken once I fully woke. I think the biggest issue with cycles that vary a lot in length is to pinpoint ovulation and have sex at the right time. Ovulation tests would show the rise for my first failed ovulation and if I hadn't kept tracking with temperatures I wouldn't have realised I needed to be having sex much later, often around day 26, but as much as day 35 in my longest cycles. I always seemed to ovulate even in my longest cycles, basal temps are more accurate then other methods but still not 100%.

I didn't TTC when having longer cycles so can't speak to that, but I did seem to be ovulating. I know for some people taking temperatures and tracking can get obsessive and make things worse, but for me I felt more in control of things when I was temping.